The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Berset talks EU-Swiss framework deal and health in Davos

Swiss Federal Councillor Alain Berset, right, meets with Jens Spahn, Minister of Health of Germany
Interior Minister Alain Berset (right) held talks with various health ministers, including Jens Spahn (left) from Germany © KEYSTONE / Gian Ehrenzeller

There is greater understanding among Europeans of Switzerland’s unique political system compared to previous years, declared Interior Minister Alain Berset after several days of bilateral meetings at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss resort of Davos. 

Addressing reporters in Davos on Thursday, Berset said he had used bilateral talks with leaders and officials to discuss the Swiss-EU framework agreement and to underline the Swiss challenges. 

“When I explained our direct democracy system to people five or seven years ago, they used to just stare at me with big eyes,” Berset told reporters in the resort in eastern Switzerland, adding that officials’ understanding had changed considerably. 

Over the past five years, the EU and Switzerland have been locked in difficult negotiations on a framework agreement to cement future ties currently governed by numerous bilateral accords. The government has yet to take a position and is carrying out a public consultation on the agreement proposed by the EU in December. 

Health and German doctors 

Among the other issues covered in Davos, Berset said health matters seemed to have grown in importance at WEF. He met Alfredo Moreno, the Minister of Social Development from Chile, who faces similar demographic challenges to those in Switzerland, such as how to look after an ageing population. 

Berset also held talks with his Dutch and British counterparts, Bruno Bruins and Matt Hancock, on the digital transformation of the health sector. 

“We may be a little slower than others in this area, but I would say we are more solid and stable,” said the Swiss minister. 

Berset also met German Minister of Health Jens Spahn to discuss the issue of German medical specialists who work in Switzerland. Spahn recently expressed his regret that numerous doctors and nurses were migrating to Switzerland and wants a new regulation to stop to this flow. Germans account for more than 50% of foreign doctors in Switzerland and many work in Swiss hospitals. 

The Swiss minister concluded that on a personal level, he felt it was important to be present in Davos, as he could make numerous contacts in a short space of time. 

“It’s always struck me how much human contact counts; and for that you have to meet each other. Personal meetings make a difference,” he said. 

Other Swiss ministers, Ueli Maurer (finance), Ignazio Cassis (foreign affairs) and Guy Parmelin (economics) were also present in Davos this week.

More

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

The start of the holiday season means long traffic jams on the Gotthard

More

Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season

This content was published on The start of the summer holidays saw a long traffic jam in front of the Gotthard tunnel on Saturday. Traffic jams between Erstfeld and Göschenen in canton Uri were up to 11 kilometres long early in the morning.

Read more: Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season
Study: Rhine could become up to 4.2 degrees warmer by 2100

More

Rhine could warm by 4°C by 2100, scientists warn

This content was published on The water temperature of the Rhine River could rise by up to 4.2° degrees Celsius by the end of the century due to the warming planet, scientists warn.

Read more: Rhine could warm by 4°C by 2100, scientists warn
'Leopard 1 A5' combat tanks in Germany.

More

Switzerland eyes joining EU rearmament programme

This content was published on The Federal Council wants to explore the possibilities of joining the European Union’s €800-billion rearmament programme without compromising Swiss neutrality.

Read more: Switzerland eyes joining EU rearmament programme
Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day

More

Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day

This content was published on On July 14, the Swiss Air Force will take part in the traditional air parade in Paris to mark the French bank holidays with an F/A-18 fighter jet. This is a first for Switzerland.

Read more: Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR